Rottnest Island Tours & Day Trips

Rottnest Island tours leave from B Shed at Victoria Quay in Fremantle and from Barrack Street Jetty in Perth, and most bundle the ferry, the island admission fee and a way to get around: a guided bus tour, a hired bike or an adventure boat. The choice comes down to where you start and how you want to cover the island, which the sections below sort out, and the things to do on Rottnest Island page covers everything else.

Rottnest Island day tours from Fremantle

Fremantle departures leave B Shed at 9.30am. The day tour with a guided bus tour adds a 90-minute island loop with commentary, taking in Wadjemup Lighthouse and the West End lookout before returning from the island at 4.30pm. The day tour with bike hire gives you a bike, helmet and lock and up to a 6-hour window of free time, to find the island's lighthouses or stop at a beach, and with luck the New Zealand fur seal colony.

On the water, the adventure boat day tour from Fremantle circles the island on the Eco Express for a 90-minute cruise looking for New Zealand fur seals and, from September, humpback whales. For one day that mixes both, Experience Rottnest with Bike & Snorkel Hire is a popular choice, with snorkel gear, a bike and a helmet in an 8-hour day.

Rottnest Island day tours from Perth

Perth departures leave Pier 2 at Barrack Street Jetty at 8.45am and return from Rottnest Island at 5pm, and most include complimentary pickup from selected Perth CBD hotels. The guided bus tour from Perth is a 90-minute loop with commentary on the island's cultural and historical past, stopping at Wadjemup Lighthouse and the rugged West End.

The bike hire day tour from Perth lets you ride from the jetty to the secluded bays and beaches at your own pace, with a helmet and security lock included. The adventure boat tour from Perth swaps the bike for the 90-minute Eco Express circuit of the island. If you would rather plan the island yourself, the round trip ferry from Perth covers the crossing and leaves the rest of the day open.

Private and island-based experiences

The guided electric rickshaw tour is a private 90-minute ride along 18 kilometres of coastline with a local guide, with stories of shipwrecks, soldiers and island survival, and rain covers if the weather turns. It leaves from Colebatch Avenue on the island at 9.45am and 12pm.

From November to April, the Luxe Seafood Cruise is a 4-hour sail from Thomson Bay Fuel Jetty with a seven-course seafood banquet. More boat trips are on the Rottnest Island cruises page.

How to choose between Rottnest Island tours

A guided bus tour asks the least effort and gives the most commentary, so it suits a first visit. A bike tour suits people who want their own pace: a full lap is about 22 kilometres, a 3 to 5-hour ride at an easy pace. An adventure boat tour shows the coastline and wildlife from the water, and the snorkel combos add time in the bays.

Fremantle tours start later than the Perth ones and skip the trip to Barrack Street Jetty if you are already near the port. For skydiving, snorkel sails and other options that run on the island itself, see Rottnest Island activities.

Frequently asked questions

Which Rottnest Island tour suits a first visit?

A day tour with a guided bus tour suits a first visit, because the 90-minute loop covers Wadjemup Lighthouse and the West End lookout with commentary and no riding. Day tours with bike hire suit visitors who would rather set their own pace.

How long are Rottnest Island day tours?

Rottnest Express day tours from Perth leave Barrack Street Jetty at 8.45am and return from the island at 5pm. The Fremantle guided bus tour returns from the island at 4.30pm, and the bike and snorkel combos run as 8-hour days.

What is the difference between Rottnest Island tours from Fremantle and Perth?

Fremantle tours leave B Shed at Victoria Quay at 9.30am, and Perth tours leave Barrack Street Jetty at 8.45am with complimentary pickup from selected Perth CBD hotels. The island experience is the same once you arrive.

Is the Rottnest Island admission fee included in day tours?

Yes for the Rottnest Express day tours, which list the Rottnest Island admission fee as an inclusion. The round trip ferry from Perth lists the return ferry alone, so check the inclusions on each tour page.

Is the Rottnest Island adventure boat tour suitable for young children?

The Rottnest Express adventure boat tour is not suitable for children under 4, expectant mothers, passengers with a pre-existing back injury or passengers confined to a wheelchair.

Can you snorkel on a Rottnest Island day tour?

Yes. The Rottnest Express day tours with bike and snorkel hire include all the snorkelling equipment, the return ferry and the island admission fee, and the Fremantle one lists a minimum age of 4.

Pick a departure point, then pick how you want to see the island. The activities and cruises pages cover the rest of the day.